Santa Barbara Weekend Getaway Itinerary
Originally published November 17, 2019
Santa Barbara is my favorite city in California! It has a perfect climate, an abundance of great restaurants, and an incredible location on the California coast.
Even though I have done and seen almost everything there is to do and see in Santa Barbara, it’s impossible to be bored here.
Between a morning at the harbor, an afternoon exploring local gardens, or a sunset at the beach, it’s easy to have an idyllic weekend getaway in Santa Barbara.
I’ve put together a full three-day weekend getaway itinerary of the best things to see, eat, and do in Santa Barbara! You can also use this guide as a one-day itinerary in Santa Barbara if you are just visiting for a day trip.
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Santa Barbara History and Culture
Santa Barbara is unique because it has a rich local culture that makes you feel like you’re in a small town, even though it’s a popular tourist destination.
A quick timeline of Santa Barbara’s history and culture:
This area is Chumash Native American land and five different Chumash villages were established throughout the region we know today as Santa Barbara.
The Spanish then arrived in the 1500s for an exhibition, but it would take another 200+ years before the Spanish settled here permanently. Much of the culture in Santa Barbara that we see today was established by these Spanish settlers, including many of the historic buildings, like the Mission.
The Mexican government took control of Santa Barbara as a result of the Mexican War of Independence in 1822.
Santa Barbara was then taken by American soldiers during the Mexican-American War in 1886 and it grew quickly as American settlers arrived.
It’s important to know the history of the region in order to understand the cultures that created the beautiful city of Santa Barbara we know today! You’ll find significant Spanish influence throughout Santa Barbara, in addition to Native American and Mexican contributions.
Where to Stay in Santa Barbara
Best Overall: Hotel Californian
Best Luxury: Palihouse Santa Barbara
Best Beachfront: Santa Barbara Inn
Best Budget: Inn by the Harbor
Best Boutique: Riviera Beach House
Read my full guide about where to stay in Santa Barbara to learn more about the best areas and hotels!
Getting Around Santa Barbara
If you stay in downtown Santa Barbara, most things are nearby — either within walking distance or a short drive away. I highly recommend renting a car so you can explore all that Santa Barbara has to offer!
Uber and Lyft both operate in Santa Barbara if you want to get around without a rental car. Keep in mind that they typically have surge pricing on weekends, especially on holidays and in the late evening.
There are also many e-bikes available to rent for biking around downtown or along the water. You will find them throughout downtown and can use an app to rent them.
Friday in Santa Barbara
Friday is a great day to explore Santa Barbara since there are typically fewer crowds. Assuming you’ll arrive on Friday and be ready to eat, start with lunch, pack in some activities during the day, grab dinner, and have a fun Friday night out downtown.
Get Lunch at Shoreline Beach Cafe
Have you ever been to a restaurant where you could take off your shoes and dig your toes into the sand while you eat? If you ask for outdoor seating here, you can do exactly that at Shoreline Beach Cafe!
Every table—inside and outside—has a beach view because this restaurant is situated directly on the sand. It sits just across the street from Santa Barbara City College and even has a walk-up window if you want to get your food to go!
I like to get an order of fries here and watch the sunset on the beach.
Walk Through the Harbor
From Shoreline you can walk right down the street to the harbor where you’ll find the Maritime Museum, boats of all kinds, and some more restaurants.
Take a nice post-meal walk through the harbor and down to Point Castillo for incredible ocean and harbor views.
Watch the Sunset at Butterfly Beach
Butterfly Beach is arguably the most beautiful beach in Santa Barbara County. The beach stretches far down the coast, so there are plenty of spots for beachgoers who want some space on the beach.
Along the bluffs above Butterfly Beach is a little walking/biking trail with views of both the beach and Montecito estates (Ty Warner’s house being one of them!).
What to Bring: swimsuit | Turkish towel | beach bag
Get Dinner at Oliver’s of Montecito
After a day of exploring the coast, freshen up and head to Oliver’s for an upscale, plant-based dinner. Pick from their unique list of cocktails and appetizers, enjoy the ambiance, and dress to impress — this spot is a celebrity favorite!
Many people who eat here are not plant-based, vegan, or even vegetarian, and still rate it highly.
Brewery Hop Downtown
Santa Barbara has some great breweries downtown. Some of the more popular ones are Figueroa Mountain Brewery, Topa Topa Brewery, The Brewhouse, and M Special, but there are many more!
Prefer wine or a cocktail, or even chocolate? Join one of the many drink tours available in Santa Barbara:
Saturday in Santa Barbara
Saturday is when Santa Barbara is at its liveliest! People are out and about enjoying the sunshine, having brunch, adventuring in the mountains, going out to nice dinners, and appreciating the arts and culture downtown.
Enjoy Brunch at Savoy Cafe and Deli
Savoy offers “handmade and homegrown” food with a focus on organic. Their breakfast menu has everything you would want at a Southern Californian brunch. I enjoy their vegan breakfast burrito.
They even have a bakery with both vegan and gluten-free options if you just want to grab some baked goods to go.
Get Fresh Produce at the Farmer’s Market
Located in downtown Santa Barbara at 119 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara CA, this farmer’s market has everything from fruits and veggies to locally made hummus and honeycomb.
It’s a really lovely little market with happy, nice vendors. Despite being a smaller market, they have a huge variety of items. Don’t miss the mushroom stand if you’re a fungi fan!
What to Bring: market tote
Explore the Gardens at Ganna Walska Lotusland
While this was once a private estate owned by Madame Ganna Walska, it is now open to the public for tours. There are hundreds of different plants and multiple gardens – the cactus garden is my favorite!
You can either choose a self-guided tour or a docent-led tour. Either way, you are limited to two hours. Tours happen twice a day from spring through fall, and the gardens are completely closed to visitors in winter.
Have a Fancy Burger at Mesa Burger
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara! We go to the location in Goleta at least twice a week whenever we’re here—often more. Mesa Burger was founded by Cat Cora, who is a Santa Barbara local and an Iron Chef.
Burgers are my meal of choice, and veggie burgers are typically a hit or miss. The Montecito Burger with a vegan patty is a hit for me (onion rings, feta, arugula, truffle aioli—yum)!
They take burgers and fries and elevate them to a delicious, quality meal. Their Santa Barbara location has nice indoor and outdoor seating, as does the Goleta location.
See Dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History looks small and unassuming from the front, but once you enter it extends far beyond the front facade.
Hop from room to room to discover wooly mammoth skeletons; preserved birds, mammals, and insects; gemstones; and Native American history. They also have a planetarium and host shows multiple times per day.
One of the most unique features of this museum is the Prehistoric Park with giant animatronic dinosaurs!
Smell Roses at Old Mission Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara is known as the “Queen of Missions.” It’s truly the best mission in all of California! From the grand pink exterior to the thriving rose garden, it’s easy to see why this one was dubbed the Queen.
You can take a tour inside the mission for a fee, or walk around the front for free! The facade is iconic and a great spot for photos. Have a picnic on the lawn between the mission and the rose garden for a lovely afternoon.
The mission is right next to the Museum of Natural History, so it’s easy to get here after your museum visit.
Eat Fish Tacos at Corazon Cocina at Public Market
Public Market isn’t just one restaurant, but many under one roof! This place has a little something for everyone.
They have a sports bar at the front and many other restaurants throughout.
Cocina Corazon at Public Market has the best fish tacos! I also love their hibiscus tea. They’re by far the most popular spot in Public Market, so expect a line and a wait. Or, place your order ahead of time and pick it up!
Catch a Show at a Local Theatre
Santa Barbara is a great place to be if you’re looking for a show!
Visit the Arlington Theatre to see performing arts or catch a celebrity award ceremony (I’ve seen Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lawrence receive awards here!). This is right next to Public Market so you can walk here before or after dinner.
Snag tickets to a concert or a standup show at the incredible Santa Barbara Bowl venue.
Watch a theatrical or musical performance at the historic Granada Theatre.
Sunday in Santa Barbara
Sundays are a day of leisure in Santa Barbara. You can sleep in and start your day late with some brunch, explore art and local gardens, and enjoy the rest of the day near the ocean.
Have a Gluten-free Brunch at Lilac Pâtisserie
You can find Lilac Patisserie on State Street near the Santa Barbara Art Museum. They are a fully gluten-free restaurant! Their quiche is incredible and the blueberry tart is delicious.
They also have many bakery items, including cakes, tarts, pies, and muffins. What they have available depends on the day, and they don’t always have every bakery item on their menu.
Lilac Patisserie was voted one of the top 10 best gluten-free bakeries by USA Today in 2018, yet you would never even know they were gluten-free because of how incredible everything tastes — no weird, crumbly pastry here.
See Monet's Paintings at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art
The art museum is on State Street, just across from Lilac Patisserie, with a wide staircase leading to the front. The first time I visited I couldn’t believe how many amazing artworks they have!
You’ll find paintings by Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, Rembrandt, Salvador Dalí, and John Singer Sargent – just to name a few you might know.
This museum was spectacularly renovated in 2021 after six years of work and $50 million. The grand entrance has a large statue in the center of a pewter blue room with massive framed artwork hanging on the walls.
I visit art museums often wherever I go, and while this one is smaller, it’s absolutely worth a visit!
TIP: Bring your student or military ID for a discount!
What to Bring: travel sketchbook | sketching pencil
Explore the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
A bit further away from the hustle and bustle of downtown you’ll find the botanic garden. It’s filled with native Californian plants, including a redwood forest, cactus garden, and Japanese tea garden!
It’s the perfect place to spend a few hours strolling around. There is even a whole area called “back county” that has different areas with outdoorsy activities for kids (although I still enjoyed it as an adult!).
There are over 5.5 miles of trails throughout the botanic garden if you’re up for a walk (wear some good trail shoes). Don’t forget to walk across the street to visit the other side of the garden where you can get aerial views of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean.
What to Bring: water bottle | sunhat | trail shoes
Have Lunch at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
After you check out the museum and work up an appetite at the botanic garden, walk to the end of Stearns Wharf for dinner at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company!
As expected, their menu is filled with fresh seafood plates – including multiple fish (shrimp and crab) cocktails and lobster tacos.
You’ll also get some of the best ocean views from here!
TIP: You can drive right onto Stearns Wharf, but parking is limited. I recommend parking in the parking lot down the street and walking if it’s crowded.
Walk Around Stearns Wharf
After lunch, visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, explore the shops on Stearns Wharf, watch the fisherman bring in the fresh catch of the day, take a photo with the ship helm, and get some ice cream to eat while you ocean-gaze.
Every Sunday year-round, you can find booths of local artists and crafters lined up on Cabrillo Blvd. right next to Stearns Wharf for the Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show from 10am to 6pm.
TIP: Stearns Wharf is one of the best spots to watch sunset in Santa Barbara! Especially in the wintertime when Santa Barbara gets its most cotton-candy-colored sunsets.
If you walk to the middle of the pier on the left-hand side (when facing the end of the pier), turn around and look at the Santa Barbara coast. This is my favorite view of Santa Barbara since you can see the ocean, white Spanish-style buildings, and a line of palm trees.
Get Funky in the Funk Zone
The Funk Zone is an eclectic area of Santa Barbara just inland from Stearns Wharf. It has colorful murals, wine-tasting rooms, breweries, coffee shops, and an art scene.
This is a great area to explore before you grab dinner. Figueroa Brewing is a great spot to grab a beer if you want to check out the local brewery scene. Alternatively, get a tea or coffee from Dart Coffee Co. and walk around the Funk Zone to check out the murals!
Have Dinner at Fish House
For an upscale dinner, head to Fish House! They have incredible dishes and ocean views from inside and outside. It’s just across the street from the beach and is nice to watch the sunset while having dinner if you don’t choose to watch from Stearns Wharf.
Take a Sunset Ocean Cruise
One of our favorite things to do for a special occasion is book tickets for a sunset cruise in the Santa Barbara harbor on the Double Dolphin. It’s a lovely 2-hour cruise around the harbor offered year-round with drinks and snacks for purchase onboard (you may not bring your own).
TIP: Wear layers! It can get chilly/windy on the water.
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